Fishing-tool



C. E. GRIFFITH.

FISHING TOOL.

APPLlcATloN HLED 1AN.2o. 1920.

5f ys 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Uw/ENTER T/367717Z??? IJO UNITED STATES CEDRIC E. GRIFFITH,'OF LOS GELES, CALIFORNIA.

FISHING-TOOL.

Speciction of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application led January 20, 1920. Serial No. 352,781.

To all -w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CEDRIC E. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fishing-Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oil well'apparatus and particularly to fishing tools and has for its object to provide a device that can be bodily lowered into a well to grappleobjects therein to be recovered when the same, for any reason, have been destroyed, injured, or disconnected from the usual well drilling and well working tools. The 1nvention consists of the construction, the combination and in details and arrangements of the parts, an embodiment of which invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described and claimed herein.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, central section ofthe upper ortion of the improved tool, and Fig. lA 1s a continuation of Fig. 1 through the lower portion of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fi 1A.

ig. 3 is a perspective of a cam device for controlling the piston valve.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fi l.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the valve rod.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the detached key bolt.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the detached key.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of a longitudinal sectioned portion of the foot shell showing the key socket.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 9 9 of Fig. 10 is a cross section on line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

The improved tool comprises a series-of relatively telescopic sections forming, when organized, a unit foot structure provided with means, when the structure is lowered into the well, to be clenched in around the embraced portion of the encountered object or obstacle, and the unit comprises a head block or swage 2 having a conical threaded top shank 3 and an internally threaded hub or body 4 in its lower end. Into this threaded portion there is extended a cylindrical piston forming rod 5 having in its upper end a cylindrical chamber 6.

The piston rod or section 5 has a central longitudinally extending passageway 8 of non-circular form ending in an enlarged chamber 9 that is formed in the enlarged lower end 10 of the piston 5, thus forming an upper annular shoulder 1l. The piston 5 is slidably mounted in a cylindrical tubular body 15 the upper end of which is bored to fit the upper end of the piston rod 5, and the inner end of this bore terminates at a shoulder 16 forming the upper end of a pis ton chamber 16 in which the enlarged portion 10 of the piston 5 is slidably litted.

When the head 2 attached to the piston 5 is connected to a lowering means indicated at A in dotted lines, Fig. 1, then the body section 15 will be resting with its internal l shoulder 16 on the external shoulder 11 on the lower portion of the piston 5 and.

the device is being lowered into a well.v

Such a device may consist of lost tools, tubing, pipes, rods and other parts such as are indicated at O.,

When the object has been so engaged, upon further downward movement of the piston 5 it will be'lowered relatively to the now stationary cylinder 15 to the position indicated in Fig. l when the head body 4 is shown in juxtaposition to the upper end of the cylinder 15. In some cases 1t is desirable to force the foot section 17 around the obstacle O, and to facilitate this the lower end of the foot section 17 is inclined to present an outwardly and downwardly flared mouth 17u and the forcing of the mouth aroundthe obstacle or object O may be secured as soon as the head 4 strikes against the upper 'end of the cylinder 15.

Extending down through the passageway 8 of the piston rod 5 is a valve rod 21 on the upper end of which is arrangeda T-head 22 which when in its lowermost position within the passageway'8 at the head of the rod 5 is prevented from rotating, but when the T-head 22 is shifted upwardly to the position. shown in Fig. 1 it occupies a diametrical position across and fits in the circular chamber 6. The valve rod 21 extends downwardly through the enlarged chamber 9 and through the space in the lower portion of the cylinder 15 and passes through a valve seat 23 that is shown as secured between the l sol lower end of the cylinder 15 and a shoulder 24 formed in the upper` end of the section 19. This section 19 is provided with a passageway 19 through which the valve rod 21 extends and the passageway is provided with anenlarged cylindrical portion 19a in which there may turn a T-head 22El on the lower end of the rod 21. Below the cylindrical pocket 19@ is a plug 23. When the valve-crosshead 22n is lowered from the interlocking passageway 19 vwhich has a transverse section similar to the transverse section of the head 22, the latter when in the chamber 19a may be rotated.

The upper end of the cylinder 15 is provided with a key 25 fitting a key way 26 formed in the adjacent surface of the piston 5.

Secured on the valve rod 21 is a valve 27 designed to sit lon the valve ring seat 23 when the valve rod 19 is shown in the position indicated in Fig. 1 and while the piston 5 is initially moving down toward the upper end of the cylinder 15. The valve 27 is shown as having a sleeve or hub portion 28 the lower end of which is provided with a pair of radial rods 29 to engage with fixed cams 30 having inclined sides 31.and perpendicularly straight sides 32. The upper end of the hub 28 is provided with similar radial rods 33 and theseare adapted to .be engaged by complementary cams 34 formed on the lower and adjacent end of the piston portion 10, this. engagement occurring after the foot structure has become stationary,

and when during the'downward movement relative thereto of the shoulder 4 with the piston rod 5 the cams 34 are brought into engagement with the rods 33 so that the valve body 28 with the valve rod 21 is rotated. This rotation will commence after the T-head 22 on the valve rod 21 has been pushed out of the locking passageway 8 and exposed in the circular or enlarged chamber 6 at the head of the piston rod 5.

The turning movement of the valve rod 21 by the cams 34 brings the crosshead 22FL on the lower end of the valve rod into register with the non-circular passageway 19 and the head will enter the same and be held against rotation. Surrounding the valve rod 21 and resting onthe upper end of the valve body 28 is a spring 35 reacting against a valve 36 that is slidably mounted on the rod 21 and that is pushed toward the seat 37 formed therefor in the lower end of the chamber 9` in the piston rod 5.

It is understood that while the shoulder or head 4 is in this downward stroke it can be impinged upon the upper end of the cylinder 15 to drive the latter and force the mouth 17a around and past the obstacle so as to insure grapple therewith.

Having thus driven the lower foot sections around the object it is then desired to interlock the grapple device or fishing tool with the object so that the latter w1ll be with drawn, and this is accomplished in the following manner:

A set of pistons 40 is mounted in piston chambers 41 in the upper end of the tubular section 19 and these pistons 41 each have downwardly extending rods .42 which are guided downwardly through the section 17 in passageways 43I provided'therefor. The

pistons 40 are preferably hydraulically opersated by the pressure of fluid which is produced in the following manner:

When the piston 5 is lifted or withdrawn so that the body 10 retracts upwardly in the chamber 16 carrying with it the valve stem 21, the valve 27 is lifted off of its seat 23 and at thc same time the valve 36 is eHectually seated, so that it forms a piston head, by the spring 35; then upon a downward movement of the piston rod 5 liquid provided in the chamber 16 is compressed below the downwardly moving piston head or valve 36, and this compressed liquid is forced through the open valve 27 and is reactive upon the pistons 40, and these are forced down in their chambers 41 and drive the piston rods 42 downwardly.

The object of yieldingly supporting the valve 36 is to enable it to be held in an open position away from the seat 37 at the end of the chamber 9 during the initial lowering of the device so that the oil in the chamber can circulate as between the chamber 9 and the chamber 16 at the period when the foot structure 15, 17 and 19 becomes stationary, and there is-relative downward movement of the piston body 10. The by-pass of the liquid during this displacement is permitted through by-pass passageways 9. The quantity of liquid which may be admitted through a plugged hole 15 in the cylinder 15` may be determined by tap and plug holes 15a at the upper end of the chamber 16.

In the lower end section 17 and arranged below the ends of the piston rods 42 is a set of claw rods 44 these being slidably arranged in longitudinal passageways 45 the lower ends of which are inturned and open' near the flared mouth 17al sothat during the downward stroke of the piston body 10 and the operation by the compressed fluid of the piston '42, the lowermost ends of the claw rods 44 will be projected near the mouth 17cl and at the same time curved or toed inwardly so as to pass around in toward the obstacle O being engaged; these inwardly turned claw-like portions of the claw rods 44 serve to interlock the obstacle or object engaged with the fishing tool.

After the object has thus been engaged and grappled by the manipulation of the tool the connection A is lifted carrying with it the connecting body 4 to which is attached the piston rod 5, and this, in moving u wardly, interconnects with the section 15 w en the shoulder 16 thereof is encoun tered, and through means of the section 15 the lower section is lifted drawing with itl the object O. It is understood that while piston 5 with the portion 10 is on its downward compression stroke with. the valve 36 22"- enters the enlarged pocket 19 at about formed for` the same in the upper portion of the surface of the chamber 57.

The plug may have a wrench receiving part 60 for a tool to be inserted up into the chamber 57 so that the nut 58 can be turned upwardly and through engagement thereof wlth the pins 56 draw the locking bolts 53 upwardly sufficiently to release the keys 47 and permit the latter to be shifted in their pockets orl mouths 40 so that they can be -Withdrawn inwardly from the latter. This which time the rods 33 will engage the cams e-Xposesthe upper ends of the claw rods 44 30 and the latter will swing the valve rod so that the same can be engagedby a tool so as to bring the head 22 around to engage and enterthe locking passageway 8.

After the tool with the grappled object has been lifted from the well the object is released from the grip of the'claw rods 44 -and the latter are then removed and others inserted. To facilitate this removal the inner face of the section 17 is rovided with a set of longitudinally extending mouths 46 adjacent to which the upper ends of the claw rods 44 terminate, and these rods are held in the inserted position by removable keys 47 which, in this case, are made complementary to the mouths 46.

As clearly shown in Fig. 7 the key 47 is an elongated bar of triangular cross section, the back or side walls of theJ mouth 46 being made complementary thereto, and the back face of the key 47 is provided with a longitudinally extending channel 48 of curved form in cross section complementary to the claw rods 44 so that the keys 47 `when inserted in the mouths 46 hold the rods 44 in their guideways 45. Each key is provided at spaced positions along its longitudinal edges with notches 49 forming intermediate shoulders 50, these notches and shoulders being designed to register with complementary shoulders 51 and notches 53 formed along the front side edges of the mouth 46 so that a key 47 can be arranged with its shoulders registering with the notches of the mouth 46 and then pressed inwardly and afterward lowered so that the shoulders 50 of the key will set behind the shoulders 51 of the mouth 46 and therefore the key will be held in place.

To so secure each inserted key there is a respective bolt 53 that is'rslidably mounted in a passageway or seat 54 the bolt and seat being of complementary and, in this case. triangular cross sectional area and here shown as triangular. One face of each bolt is provided with a longitudinal circular grooveor channel 55 to receive or fit the adjacent surface of a respective piston or push rod 42. The bolt strips or pieces 53 have each at their upper end a pin 56 designed to project into the interior chamber 57 of the section 17; the pins are movable longitudinally in the slots 56 by means of a threaded plug or traveler 58 engaging threads 59 and sprung into the chamber 57 and then pulled upwardly out of their pockets or passageways 45.

Varlous changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A fishing tool for well operations in.

cluding a mouth section; projectable claw rods normally retracted in the body of the section; means for projecting the claws after theobject has been encompassed by the mouth of the section; and keys for holding and guiding the claws, the keys dismountable to uncover the claw shank for removal.

. 2. A fishing tool for well operations including a mouth section; projectable clau1 rods normally retracted in the body of the' section; means for projecting the claws after the object has been encompassed by the mouth of the section; keys for holding and guiding the claws, the keys dismountable to uncover the claw shank for removal; and lock means for the keys.

3. A fishing tool for well operations including a grappling or leading section with projectable claw means; means for carrying the said section down and then ramming it past the upper part of the fished for object; and means controlled by the ramming means for projecting the claws to grapple the object.

4. A fishing tool for well operations including a grappling or leading section with projectable claw means; means for carrying the said section down and then ramming it past the upper part of the fished for object; and hydraulic means controlled by the ramming means for projecting the claws to grapple the object.

5. A fishing tool for recovering well operatin and digging apparatus comprising a grapp ing section; proj ectable means mounted in said section to clench a grappled object; a hydraulic motorfor projecting the said clenching means; a cylinder chamber with a normally open valve; a pistonoperable in the chamber and having fluid passageways in the by-pass of fluid in one stroke of the piston; a normally closed Valve at the foot ofthe cylinder; and means for opening the latter valve and permitting the passage of Huid when the aforesaid valve is closed by the operation of the piston so that the compressed fiuid will operate the hydraulic motor.

6. In a deep well fishing tool, a grappling or foot section with projectile means to clench about the object being fished for; a hydraulic motor for projecting said clenching means; a cylinder containing fluid; a valve rod having a fixed valve thereon nor mally closing the outlet of said chamber; a valve slidably mounted on the said valve rod; and a piston operative in the fluid chamber whereby on an initial downward stroke the valve rod is turned so as to be unlocked from a lowermost position and turned to a free position, whereby when the piston recedes from its initial lower position the valve rod will be elevated to remove its fixed valve from the seat thereof, and so that the movable Valve on the piston rod will close the fiuid chamber in the piston so that on a portion of the downwardrstroke thereof the fiuid will be compressed and the hydraulic motor operated.

7. In a deep well fishing toola grappling or foot' section with projectile means to clench about the object being fished for; a hydraulic motor for projecting said clenching means; a cylinder containing fluid; a valve rod having a fixed valve thereon normally vclosing the outlet of said chamber; a valve slidably mounted on the said valve rod a piston operative in the fiuid chamber whereby on an initial downward stroke the valve rod is turned so as to be unlocked from a lowermost position and turned to a free position, whereby when the piston recedes from its initial lowerl position thel valve rod will be elevated to remove its fixed valve from the seat thereof, and so that the movable valve on the piston rod will close the fluid chamber in the piston so that on a portion of the downward stroke thereof the fluid will be compressed and the hydraulic motor operated; and means for restoring the valve rod to the initial position so that its fixed valve closes the outlet of the fluid chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CEDRIC E. GRIFFITH. 

